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The taxonomy view with a depth of 0.enThe IOC rejects Chicago in the First Roundhttp://www.newgeography.com/content/001073-the-ioc-rejects-chicago-first-round
<p>The International Olympic Committee has rejected Chicago in the first round. A delegation of President Obama, Michelle Obama, Oprah, Mayor Daley and others failed to convince the IOC. President Obama made an impassioned plea to the <a href="http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=35671&amp;ba=1">IOC</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p>"Chicago is a city where the practical and the inspirational exist in harmony; where visionaries who made no small plans rebuilt after a great fire and taught the world to reach new heights," Obama told the IOC's members. "I urge you to choose Chicago."</p></blockquote>
<p>This fell on deaf ears representing a major defeat for President Obama, Mayor Daley, and powerful Alderman Ed Burke (who was the point man to hand out the money).</p>
<p>Veteran Chicago journalist <a href="http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/dear-international-olympic-committee/Content?oid=1205247">Ben Joravsky</a> summarized the negative concerning Chicago:</p>
<blockquote><p>the city hasn't completed a major construction project on time or on budget in recent memory. Pick a project, any project: the reconstruction of Soldier Field, the creation of Millennium Park, the redevelopment of the prime downtown land at Block 37, the expansion of O'Hare airport—they were all finished way over budget if they were finished at all. In Chicago, people know that the question isn't whether city projects will go over budget, but by how much.</p></blockquote>
<p>Even though Chicago’s City Council voted 49-0 in a guarantee to support the 2016, public support has been on the decline all year. A recent Chicago Tribune poll suggested half the public didn’t want the Olympics. The IOC, undoubtedly, had to be concerned the lack of public support in Chicago when making the final decision.</p>
<p>The grass roots organization <a href="http://nogames.wordpress.com/2009/10/01/update2/">No Games Chicago</a> deserves much credit for taking on the Chicago Machine with meager funds. Thomas Tesser of No Games ran an effective campaign in the media against the powerful Chicago interests. <a href="http://www.suntimes.com/sports/olympics/1767148,CST-EDT-open12c.article">The Chicago Sun Times</a> ran this Tesser attack which was quite effective:</p>
<blockquote><p>The City Council voted to give oversight of the City's Olympic commitments to Ald. Ed Burke, chairman of the Finance Committee. This is the final cruel joke played by the Council on the taxpayers. Burke has become a millionaire doing deals with firms that have business with the city and has collected millions in campaign contributions from firms doing business with the city. Pat Ryan, the chairman of the 2016 effort, contributed $3,000 to Burke. Burke didn't mention that he has ten clients who are major donors to the </p></blockquote>
<p>Will Chicago come back for another try in 2020? Only time will tell.</p>
http://www.newgeography.com/content/001073-the-ioc-rejects-chicago-first-round#commentsChicagoOlympicsFri, 02 Oct 2009 12:01:50 -0400Steve Bartin1073 at http://www.newgeography.com